JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters and dozens of other officers walked through the Cedar Hills neighborhood, but one woman wrote a message in chalk on the street for the sheriff.
RELATED: JSO releases bodycam footage of man killed in shootout during traffic stop in Northwest Jacksonville
Tasha Vettraino has lived in the Cedar Hills neighborhood for 15 years.
She wrote a message in chalk on the street for the sheriff that said, “For our children’s safety we need speed bumps PLEASE T.K. WATERS.”
“Our children and our dogs, we do have some big dogs, run out and they normally play,” Vettraino said. “They usually like to ride their bikes, but she doesn’t not ride her bike anymore because they come speeding down our road. We have written letters, done numerous things to try and get some type of speed bumps. It has not been very effective, but now that Mr. Waters has just walked down, he said he will get on it for us.”
Waters talked about the traffic issue, specifically speeders cutting through this part of town from Blanding Boulevard is a problem.
He said there was a similar issue in a different neighborhood.
“We will put cars out here and write tickets,” Waters said. “We have motorcycle units, they will write tickets. We just heard some of the same concerns in District 2 about traffic. We went out there and wrote over 100 tickets, warnings and citations. Sometimes, community and neighborhood people get caught up in that. We are addressing the issue that someone told us about.”
Vettraino said she hopes that he stands by his word.
“Nobody can safely even walk down our road without someone speeding,” she said. “When you asked them nicely to slow down, they go even faster.”
Wanda Edwards had a chance to speak with Waters and City Councilman At-Large Ron Salem about other complaints including squatters in vacant houses, drug use, specifically a “meth house” in the area.
Waters said both issues have been taken care of.
“What it tells me is people see how genuine we are about the issues and how we are going to address the issues,” Waters said. “Some folks came out and walked alongside me and told me about something they were experiencing in their communities which is good. When I drove up and saw this, I was extremely excited because this is what you want to see.”
Salem said to call JSO if you have an issue.
“Even if it’s something that you are just suspicious about, call JSO and get them involved,” Salem said.
Waters said the walks have done their job by getting people comfortable to bring issues they are facing to his attention.
